Network Printing via D-Link Mac & PC Integration

[breigh]

Whew. Where to begin?

First of all, I am by no means a computer or networking expert so I need some help in "plain language." I'm learning.

So here's what's up:

I have 3 dell laptops and 3 mac laptops on a D-Link router (DI-824VUP) wirelessly. We recently purchased a printer server (D-Link DP-G310) to hook up to our Epson CX5400. All the PCs print just great.

The macs on the other hand...trouble. I've added the printer via IP printing, rendezvous, with the gimp print stuff - argh. Nothing works consistently. Every once in a while it will work (stubbornly) via the IP address directly. Other times it makes reference to port 631, network busy, or it just disappears from the print list altogether.

This led to looking at the network itself. On my powerbooks, I can't see how to network with the PCs - how to access them. They show up on one network that we created (name: Home) and the Macs show up in another (name: Workgroup). I don't want Workgroup, I want Home. I want all the computers to be together in harmony...

Can't figure out how to seamlessly integrate Macs and PCs, and cannot figure out how to print on the Macs.

By the way, 2 of the powerbooks have panther, 1 has tiger. Same problem on all 3.

Any and all help is appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[mklos]

Whew. Where to begin?

First of all, I am by no means a computer or networking expert so I need some help in "plain language." I'm learning.

So here's what's up:

I have 3 dell laptops and 3 mac laptops on a D-Link router (DI-824VUP) wirelessly. We recently purchased a printer server (D-Link DP-G310) to hook up to our Epson CX5400. All the PCs print just great.

The macs on the other hand...trouble. I've added the printer via IP printing, rendezvous, with the gimp print stuff - argh. Nothing works consistently. Every once in a while it will work (stubbornly) via the IP address directly. Other times it makes reference to port 631, network busy, or it just disappears from the print list altogether.

This led to looking at the network itself. On my powerbooks, I can't see how to network with the PCs - how to access them. They show up on one network that we created (name: Home) and the Macs show up in another (name: Workgroup). I don't want Workgroup, I want Home. I want all the computers to be together in harmony...

Can't figure out how to seamlessly integrate Macs and PCs, and cannot figure out how to print on the Macs.

By the way, 2 of the powerbooks have panther, 1 has tiger. Same problem on all 3.

Any and all help is appreciated!

Thanks!

You can change the workgroup of the Macs by doing the following:

1. Double Click on your Hard Drive (on the Mac).

2. Double Click on Applications

3. Double Click on Utilities

4. Double Click on Directory Access

5. Click ONCE on the padlock in the lower left and put in your administrator password so you can make changes.

6. Click on SMB Networking and then click the Configure button.

7. A sheet will pop down and there you can change the Workgroup from workgroup to MSHOME.

8. Click ok

9. Click on the Directory Access Menu and then click on Quit.

You shouldn't need to restart in order for the changes to take effect.

Also, make sure you're using a static IP Address on the print server, then the IP Address of the print server won't change. You shouldn't have a problem making the Macs print via IP Address as long as you choose the correct EPSON Printer Driver for OS X.

Everything is easier if you use Manual (Static) IP Addresses. Then the IP Addresses never change on either the Macs, PCs, Wireless Router, or the Printer Server. It just takes a little extra work to get everything going if you're a little inexperienced.

In my opinion, Mac to PC, or visa versa printing has never been very reliable, nor is it as easy as it should be to setup. Hopefully Leopard will fix some of these issues, or future Tiger updates.

See if this link helps you out a little:

http://support.dlink.com/SupportFAQ/default.asp?model=DP-G310